Weekend Wakeup: Road races, festivals to close roads

WASHINGTON – Seasonal temperatures and moderate humidity will present ideal conditions for the many races set to take place around the Washington area this weekend.

Driving anywhere near these events, however, could be very challenging. Motorists will encounter numerous road closures related to the Nation’s Triathlon, the Parks Half Marathon, the Arlington 9/11 5K and others at various times throughout the weekend.

Beat the Deadline 5K

The Beat the Deadline 5K, benefiting the work of the National Press Club’s Journalism Institute, starts at 7:30 a.m. Saturday. Portions of Pennsylvania Avenue and Constitution Avenue will be closed roughly between Freedom Plaza and the U.S. Capitol through late morning. Most of the closures should be lifted by 9:30 a.m.

Arlington Police, Fire and Sheriff Memorial 9/11 5K

On Saturday afternoon and evening several streets around the Pentagon and Crystal City will be closed for the 2013 Arlington Police, Fire and Sheriff Memorial 9/11 5K race. Most of the closures are scheduled between 5:45 and 6:30 p.m. but could last longer depending on when the last participants cross the finish line near the DoubleTree Hotel in Crystal City.

Washington Boulevard will be closed from the Memorial Bridge to Interstate 395. Southbound Route 110 will be closed its length from Rosslyn to Crystal City. Portions of Army Navy Drive, South Joyce Street and Columbia Pike will also be closed. The race will also block the I-395 express lanes until at least 8 p.m.

Nation’s Triathlon

On Sunday morning, the 8th Annual Events DC Nation’s Triathlon to Benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society will bring thousands of athletes into Washington in addition to thousands of spectators. The race course will close numerous routes along the National Mall, Tidal Basin, Potomac Park, Rock Creek Park and even a portion of I-395 in Arlington. Most road closures will be in place by 6 a.m. and will last through the midday hours. Those with travel plans near downtown areas should have a backup plan and an alternate route in mind.

A number of major routes through the District of Columbia will be closed to traffic including Independence Avenue, 14th Street SW, the Potomac Freeway/E Street Expressway, the Whitehurst Freeway, Rock Creek Parkway and Maine Avenue. These closures will be implemented by sunrise and many will be remain in place until 1:00 p.m.

Constitution Avenue is expected to remain open Sunday morning but will likely be very congested. There will be no access to the Potomac Freeway, the E Street Expressway, or Independence Avenue from the inbound Roosevelt Bridge (interstate 66). All inbound traffic from Virginia will be directed onto Constitution Avenue.

The Nation’s Tri will block the ramps to lower 14th Street SW and Maine Avenue westbound from I-395 but the freeway itself will be open to traffic.

Parks Half Marathon

Several roads between Rockville and Bethesda will be closed on Sunday morning for the Parks Half Marathon. The north and southbound lanes of Connecticut Avenue will be closed to traffic near the intersection of Jones Bridge Road for this race.

The race starts at the intersection of Stonestreet Avenue and Highland Avenue near the Rockville Metro station and heads south to Veirs Mill Road. Look for police direction on Veirs Mill Road between Rockville and Aspen Hill Road and Randolph Road near Dewey Drive early in the race.

Once on the Capitol Crescent/Georgetown Branch Trail, runners will head west and cross Connecticut Avenue near Chevy Chase Lake Drive. Connecticut Avenue will be closed in both directions from 8:00 a.m. to 9:37 a.m. in this area. Small warning signs have been posted along Connecticut Avenue for a few weeks but many drivers will still be caught off-guard. Delays are likely between the Beltway and East-West Highway. Drivers are urged to take Georgia Avenue or Wisconsin Avenue to bypass this closure.

The 5K course includes a portion of Route 108/Clarksville Pike near Centennial Lake, part of which will be blocked for the runners.

Other Events

The 11th Street Local Bridge between the Navy Yard and Historic Anacostia will be closed for a celebration and bridge dedication from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. The event will feature family-friendly activities, music and food. The closure is not expected to have a major impact on traffic because the main spans of the 11th Street Bridge between the Southeast/Southwest Freeway and Interstate 295 will be open.

The Frederick Douglass Bridge swing span is up for its monthly testing this weekend from 4 to 9 a.m. Sunday. The bridge will be closed to traffic between the Suitland Parkway and Nationals Park during this time.

The Pepsi Fan Festival and AT&T Nation’s Football Classic will take place at RFK Stadium from late morning through the evening Saturday. Expect heavy traffic on D.C. Route 295/Kenilworth Avenue a times throughout the day.

Sunday is also Adams Morgan Day. Food, families and music will keep 18th Street NW closed all day long between Florida Avenue and Columbia Road. Parking will be limited on the side streets and in the nearby neighborhoods.

Metrorail Delays and Closings

Weekend track work will close a few stations on the Orange and Red lines. Those with travel plans that involve a connection at Washington’s Union Station should build extra time into their itinerary as Metro trains will not be running. Free bus service will ferry Metro customers around the work zones but delays of up to an hour are possible.

On the Red Line buses replace trains between Rhode Island Avenue and Judiciary Square. The Union Station and NoMa-Gallaudet stations will be closed. Local and express buses will be available outside the affected stations. Trains are expected to run at normal intervals on the Red Line outside of this work zone.

On the Orange Line buses replace trains between Vienna and Ballston. The Vienna, Dunn Loring, West Falls Church, East Falls Church stations will be closed. Local and express buses will be available outside the affected stations. Trains are expected to run at normal intervals from Ballston to New Carrollton.

There is no scheduled work on the Green and Yellow lines. Customers on the Blue Line who depart Franconia-Springfield will experience some delays.